Why does the pope wear a beanie?

Answer 1

Every aspect of the Catholic church and the teachings of Catholicism are based off of two things. One of those things is scripture and the other is tradition. To be more precise, the pope wears the clothing that he does because it is something that has been established in the Roman Catholic Church for a long period of time.

Answer 2

It originally started amongst the Jewish high priests. Later it is written in the Talmud that all Jewish males should wear them to remind them of presence of G-d looking down on them from heaven. Hence, a sign of respect. Jewish females are exempt because they have a higher connection to G-d. Similarily, catholic priests continued to preserve the custom for same reasons established by the Jewish high priests

Answer 3

All ordained clergy can wear the the zuchetto, not just the pope. However, few priests wear it. Bishops, cardinals and the pope do wear it and the color differs according to rank - bishops wear violet, cardinals wear red and the pope wears white. Although it resembles the Jewish kippah (yarmulke), there is no relationship between the two. It was adopted in the early Middle Ages to keep clerics' tonsured (shaved) heads warm in churches that were not heated. It has remained part of the 'uniform' of clerics as a tradition. The zucchetto is worn throughout most of the Mass, but is removed at the commencement of the Preface and replaced at the conclusion of the Liturgy of the Communion.

Answer 4

The 'skull cap' is actually called a zucchetto and is worn by bishops, cardinals and the pope. Bishops wear a violet one, cardinals red and the pope wears white. The use dates back to the earlier years when few churches had any heating and most clergy were tonsured - the top of their head was shaved. They wore the zucchetto to keep their heads warm during liturgies in colder months. Now they are worn out of tradition rather than out of need.

Answer 5

Roman Catholic AnswerIt is a miter, and is not silly, all Bishops have been wearing one for more centuries than most religions have existed.

Answer 6

The Pope wears a small white skull cap known as a 'zucchetto', not a "beanie".
The zucchetto can be worn by all ordained priests of the Latin Church, and indicates their rank. Many priests, espacially if they work in the Vatican, can wear a black one. Bishops and Territorial Prelates wear an Amaranth zucchetto while Cardinals wear scarlet. There is also a brown zuccheto worn by ordained Franciscan Friars

Answer 7

The zucchetto worn my many members of the higher clergy dates back many, many years. It was originally used when many clergy were tonsured - had the top of their head shaved - and churches were not heated. They wore the zucchetto to keep their head warm. Bishops wear a violet zucchetto and cardinals wear red. Only the pope (or pope emeritus) wears white.